CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

Cade Cunningham handles the basketball with Max Strus guarding.

The Pistons Are Getting Down To Business

Albert Burneko

The Machines

You Should Never Be The Most Sycophantic Participant In A Conversation With A Chatbot

Lauren Theisen

Taylor Hall #71 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal

Could This Finally Be The Hurricanes’ Year?

Ray Ratto

John Chayka speaks to media at a press conference he was announced as General Manager and Mats Sundin is introduced as Senior Executive Advisor of Hockey Operations of the Toronto Maple Leafs .

Everyone Is Already Mad At The New GM Of The Toronto Maple Leafs

<p>Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

The Jackson family poses on the red carpet

Funbag

The Musical Biopic Is Dead

<div id="message-list_1773066846.655809">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>


Abigail Segel

Arts And Culture

Jules Boykoff’s ‘Kicking’ Is Clear-Eyed And Warm-Hearted

Tom Ley

The Minnesota Timberwolves Cannot Be Doubted

Giri Nathan

Jaylen Brown streaming on Twitch after his first-round playoff loss

Jaylen Brown Follows Up Playoff Collapse With Streamer Tantrum

Kathryn Xu

Race winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team celebrates with his team during the F1 Grand Prix of Miami.

Racing

Cherubic Formula 1 Child Continues Success In Miami

Luis Paez-Pumar

Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United celebrates scoring the third goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on May 3, 2026 in Manchester, England.

Soccer

Manchester United Is Reaching Dangerous Levels Of Normal

Barry Petchesky

Shots

You’re Not Looking Through 12,000 New Artemis Photos, So Here Are Some Of The Best

What The Hell Was That?

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Crosswords

The Crossword, May 4: Fire Away

TAMPA, FLORIDA - MAY 03: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning reacts after the 2-1 defeat against the Montréal Canadiens in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on May 03, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)

Tampa Lost An Unlosable Game

Jakub Dobes #75, Alexandre Carrier #45 and Kaiden Guhle #21 of the Montréal Canadiens celebrate after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 3, 2026.

The Canadiens Butted Their Way Into An Upset

Patrick Redford

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 03: Daniss Jenkins #24, Cade Cunningham #2, Tobias Harris #12 and Ausar Thompson #9 of the Detroit Pistons celebrate a basket against Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic during the second quarter in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 03, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Fraud Allegations Against Pistons Dismissed

David Roth

Ildemaro Vargas #6 of the Arizona Diamondbacks reacts into third base during the eighth inning of the MLB Mexico City Series game between San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú on April 26, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico.

It’s Ildemaro Vargas Time In Major League Baseball

Manager Tony Vitello #23 of the San Francisco Giants relieves Landen Roupp #65 in the fifth inning of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 2, 2026.

The San Francisco Giants Have Never Cast A Smaller Shadow

Logan Stankoven #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes shoots the puck for a goal against goalie Dan Vladar #80 of the Philadelphia Flyers in Game One of the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Hurricanes Aim To Keep It Boring

Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the first half of a game against the Boston Celtics in Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs.

The Sixers And Flyers Claim Home Court Over Bruce Springsteen

Nikola Jokic (15), Jamal Murray (27) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) of the Denver Nuggets walk to the bench for a timeout as the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrate during the third quarter of the Timberwolves' 110-98 Game 6 first round NBA Playoffs series win at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 30, 2026. Minnesota eliminated the Nuggets 4-2. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

The Nuggets Went Out Like Suckers

Dave McKenna

(Eingeschränkte Rechte für bestimmte redaktionelle Kunden in Deutschland. Limited rights for specific editorial clients in Germany.) Children in their free time Bourgeois children in a cafe in the 'Casino des Enfants' in Paris - 1904 - Vintage property of ullstein bild (Photo by ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images)

Food

Watch Out For Those Fees

Kelsey McKinney

Justin Crawford, in the powder blue jersey, gets drenched in water after a walk-off win!

Two Walk-Off Wins? In This Economy?

Veronica de Souza

Make It Nice

Make It Nice: How To Organize A Home Office

GRIMSBY, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: An aerial view of imported new cars on the quayside of Alexandra Dock at Grimsby Port on June 28, 2025 in Grimsby, England. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)